Semantic Drift

So, I tried an experiment today. Instead of the regular flake food, I tried giving my two platies an algae wafer. They totally loved the thing. They'd pick at it, then then current would catch it and they'd throw it around like a football.

I was just wondering, would it be safe to leave the wafer in there, or would they overeat? Do platies know their own tolerance for algae? I don't have any scavengers or algae-eaters to help clean up, either. That's what the gravel vacuum is for. Could this pose a problem?

COBettaCouple

The platies will eat and eat and eat and eat some more. they love algae wafers and could overeat on them. Remove uneaten portions after a few hours to avoid nitrite releasing into the water.

Joy44

I have tiger barbs, platy and pleco in the same tank. Every single one of my fish go crazy for the wafers. The barbs toss it about and my pleco is lucky to get any. I try to drop it in there close to when I turn the lights out, because that is when my pleco has the best shot at getting some of it!

COBettaCouple

Try breaking it into smaller pieces to put around the tank in different spots too, it might help the pleco get more food.

Joy44

I do break it into two pieces and put them at opposite side of my tank it just never fails that my pleco is usually too shy in the light and the action to take his share. I save him a little before lights out.My barbs aren't shy about anything! How often do you think it is alright to give them wafers? I also have a snail that likes them and a few shrimp.

COBettaCouple

that's the hard part to tell - it's really something each person has to figure out by trial and error and figuring out when to put the wafers in so the pleco gets to eat the most and the barbs the least. (if it's possible to drop the wafer halves in after the barbs have gone to sleep (something to figure out - like our platys would be asleep in 30 min max) in a spot where the snail and pleco tend to hang out - that could help.

Joy44

Is there such a thing as platy and barbs eating too Much algea wafer? They really like it and I love to watch them but I would hate to over feed them it. There are never any left overs! Can it be a daily thing or is that too often?

COBettaCouple

They'll certainly do their best to eat themselves to death given enough food. when we first put algae wafers in the platy tank after getting the corys, we'd come home to hungry corys and happy little FAT platys. LOL. the corys get enough leftover food that we don't put wafers in the tank.. they've learned to eat when the platys do so they always get some.